Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Plainfield vs Wilder vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Essex Junction | Plainfield | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,087 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797 118% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Plainfield School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.